8 Breathing Exercises For Headache

Headaches can be so excruciating that they sometimes make you lose your focus, energy and stability to take a step further to complete your daily chores. If you have frequent headaches troubling you, I am sure that most of you all go for the medication process of swallowing pills to comfort yourself instantly. These medicines have an adverse after effect on the body though you may not be aware of it at present. So here i come again to your rescue by suggesting you to perform a few correct breathing exercises that will give you slow but soothing relief from a troublesome headache.

1. Breathe In A Rhythm

The right amount of oxygen intake in the body not only calms us down but also works a magic spell for the headache. Stop taking short inadequate breaths. Instead, take a deep long intake of oxygen in a count of 10 and exhale the similar way by again counting 10. This rhythm of breathing will help to relax your nerves and reduce the pain of your headache.

2. Practice The Balloon Technique

Sit straight on mat, think of a spot below your navel and breathe. Breathe as much as you can at least to fill the abdomen. Then slowly, exhale the air with your nose as much as you had taken in. The feeling should be like taking in as much air as possible and exhaling the same air as to feel deflated like a balloon. Continue this technique for 5-10 minutes to get relief from a troublesome headache.

3. Exercise Of Visualising Breath

Sit comfortably on a chair or a mat. Inhale the breath and imagine the pure air going in through your nose, lungs and spreading to your body. Connote this to the thought that you are taking in all the positive emotions inside you to purify the body. Similarly, while exhaling, imagine the impure air coming out from your body and lungs out through the nose. Feel that you are letting all negativity come out along with your breath. This is called visualising the breath. Do this for 5-10 minutes to relief yourself from a headache.

4. Alternate Nostril Breathing (Anulom Vilom)

This exercising is good for the relaxation of the body. Sit straight on a mat. Breathe in through your left nostril while you cover the right nostril with your middle finger. Hold the breath for some time and then breathe out through the nostril that was kept closed with the middle finger. While doing so, close the right nostril with your ring finger. Keep repeating this process for 5-10 minutes to overcome a headache and calm your senses as well.

5. Sudarshan Kriya

This is a three part process of breathing. First, sit in a Diamond pose or also known as the Vajrasana. Start by inhaling in a slow process and keep the exhalation process at the same pace as with the inhalation. After doing this for 5-10 minutes, start the exhalation that is twice the duration of the inhalation. Do this for 5-10 minutes. At the last stage, the inhalation sold be kept at a duration twice that of exhalation. Do this also for 5-10 minutes. This breathing technique too helps in getting relief from a headache.

6. Bellow’s Breath (Bhastrika Pranayam)

Sit in the Lotus pose and inhale and exhale with as much force as possible. Take deep inhalations and exhalations 5 times and then take a deep breath and rest for a few seconds. Repeat this process for 10-15 minutes. This exercise helps in giving a vigour to the senses and keeps a headache at bay.

7. Bee Breathing Technique (Bhramari Pranayam)

Sit straight on your yoga mat with eyes closed and a gentle smile on your face. Keep the eyes closed and try sensing the quietness in your internal body and the surrounding too. Now, place the index fingers on your ear’s cartilage to keep it closed, take a deep breath and make a humming sound like a bee does. Make this sound for 10 seconds and then breathe out. Repeat the above process for 10-15 minutes to get rid of a headache and to increase your concentration power too.

8. Cooling Breath Technique (Sitali Pranayam)

Sit straight on a yoga mat and take the position of Gyan mudra in which the first finger and thumb touches each other and rest of the fingers are kept on the knees to rest. Curl the tongue by making the sides curl upward and stick it out of your lips. Inhale deeply through the mouth and to feel a cooling sensation as the air passes through the tongue. Breathe enough to fill up the stomach. While exhaling, do so through the nose. Continue this process for 10-15 minutes to relax the body, mind, bring clarity and calmness to the soul. This technique also helps to get relief from a headache.

These are some of the simple breathing techniques that will come to your aid when you suffer from a bad headache. Otherwise, these pranayams will also help you to have a fit mind and body if practiced regularly.